To some extent, VC is right about the Nets screwed up the Playoffs positions...

The Nets got a 4th seed, and the Hawks lost two straight to allow the Bulls to move up to 5th seed. The Nets had a tough battle and lost in 7, the season ended with semi-disappointment, although honestly a first round exit for a team that had 20-30 wins for the last 4-5 seasons should not be that bad.

I remember VC said that the nets could've made it to ECF if we grabbed the 3rd seed. Hes actually right about that, we surely could. Lets see how this would have turned out for us:

1st round: Nets 4-0 Hawks
2nd round: Nets 4-2 Knicks

So yeah, it looks good to me this way. I never doubted that we'd swept the Hawks if we played them, too bad it turned out to be the Bulls instead. The Nets also had an edge over the Knicks due to the play-style, and the fact that Mike Woodson is a 2nd round coach he always was. The way the Knicks played in 2nd round also made it clear that they were overrated. The conclusion is, the Nets indeed could've made it to ECF as a 3 seed.

And how about another scenario, what if the Nets traded place with Knicks. In this way, the 4th seedKnicks would've been knocked out by the Bulls, probably in less than 7 games. The 2nd seed Nets would go on to sweep both the Celtics and the Pacers, dont laugh, the Nets were 3-0 against Pacers in regular season and we got their number. Going 8-0 in the first two rounds of playoffs sounds sweet, and moreover, it was clearly possible.

So either way, the Nets would've made it to ECF as a 2nd or 3rd seed, yet a 4th seed was really bad considering that our ceiling would be 2nd round even if we somehow got past the Bulls. For this, the Nets only had themselves to blame for losing some important games at the end of the season against the Hawks, 76ers and Raptors.

Anyway the season is over, hopefully the Nets will adjust and win 55+ games next season. Good news for us is that the Nets have brighter future than the Knicks, we are not that old of a team and have room to improve despite the fact that FA signing seems to be out of the picture.

Re: To some extent, VC is right about the Nets screwed up the Playoffs positions...

it was that brutal month where brook was injured. we lost 5 in a row and started pointing fingers. deron was at an all-time low, we had no back-up big with andray starting and if it weren't for that december month, we could've won like 3 more games. enough to put us in the third seed right behind the pacers. we finished an unfortunate half a game behind the pacers. it's disheartening and silly looking in the past and saying "wish we would've won two more games or so" but we have to make sure that next year we have a roster that is tougher. we can't make many changes but better bench and a starting combo that doesn't feature gerald and evans is a priority entering next season.

Re: To some extent, VC is right about the Nets screwed up the Playoffs positions...

I feel like we Nets fans do a lot of "coulda shoulda woulda" and what if's. There were a lot of opportunities we could have taken but we didn't take advantage. Loses to the Sixers, Raptors, Wizards all crippled our chances at the 3rd seed.

I'm looking forward to next season. I hope Billy finds the right coach because this team is talented enough to compete with the NBA's best. We just need the right system and a deeper bench.

Re: To some extent, VC is right about the Nets screwed up the Playoffs positions...

If you ask you shall receive...

I think it's kind of delusional to think that the Nets problems were all related to the matchup. The Bulls were missing practically their entire team at times and the Nets folded. There is something wrong with the Nets mix, which might be a function of the coach, might not. But in game 7 the Nets folded up their tents in the first half (made the second half run that is misleading, much like the Knicks often do). That's not a positive sign.

To me the Nets would be better off with an offensive coach whose teams have showed effort on defense, not a defensive coach (NOT SCOTT SKILES). I'm not sure they'd respond to being yelled at all the time, certainly Lopez did not.

I also think if they can move one of the core pieces (Wallace, Evans, Blatche, JJ), anyone aside from Deron or Lopez for a similar piece but a nastier personality they should/ The Nets have a ton of pieces who aren't phased too much by losing. As hard as Evans plays, he doesn't care if he loses. Neither does Blatche or Lopez. Wallace does but he's getting too older. Deron neither. When the Knicks lost Chandler was much too cheery, much too "we'll be ok, it's a stepping stone, etc." Pissed me off. If you look at the Nets, almost EVERY Net said exactly what Chandler said.

I know some of you rag on the Knicks but the Knicks lost because we played a better team. The Nets lost because you packed it in early because winning would have required more effort than they were willing to give.

Note: You wouldn't have beat the Pacers the way they are playing. They are totally different now. If you want to say you'd beat the Knicks, whatever gets you through an alternate tuesday.

Nets should be thrilled they didn't get Josh Smith btw. That's not what you need. You need David West, a nasty guy who wants everyone else to be nasty and might start throwing punches at his own team if they aren't willing to play.

Re: To some extent, VC is right about the Nets screwed up the Playoffs positions...

agree, the nets were pretty-much gifted that matchup against the badly-limping bulls. if a team full of star-quality, high-priced vets can't take advantage of that opportunity... well... nothing left to do but make excuses, eh?

wallace and JJ are going to be almost impossible to move. the nets painted themselves in to a corner trying to convince d-will to stay and now there's not much left but to hope the younger guys step up, the next couple of years.

i don't know what type of coach is going to get much more from these guys. this is not like the group of underachievers who merely needed a jason kidd to come along in 2002. the key players are all vets, and it should be well understood by now what type of player lopez is and how to use him best. maybe a super-efficient systems coach or a master-motivator, but those guys are pretty much busy winning already. sloan seems interesting, though, and d-will seemed open to it last i read.

anyway, prokhy needs to take a long look at the concrete ceiling he ordered king to build and take some important lessons from it. next time the nets have flexibility and assets, they must do better... or fall in to the same trap that the knicks chronically fall in to. the nature of the big stage seems to keep getting to these teams.

Re: To some extent, VC is right about the Nets screwed up the Playoffs positions...

Quote:

Originally Posted by gigantes

agree, the nets were pretty-much gifted that matchup against the badly-limping bulls. if a team full of star-quality, high-priced vets can't take advantage of that opportunity... well... nothing left to do but make excuses, eh?

wallace and JJ are going to be almost impossible to move. the nets painted themselves in to a corner trying to convince d-will to stay and now there's not much left but to hope the younger guys step up, the next couple of years.

i don't know what type of coach is going to get much more from these guys. this is not like the group of underachievers who merely needed a jason kidd to come along in 2002. the key players are all vets, and it should be well understood by now what type of player lopez is and how to use him best. maybe a super-efficient systems coach or a master-motivator, but those guys are pretty much busy winning already. sloan seems interesting, though, and d-will seemed open to it last i read.

anyway, prokhy needs to take a long look at the concrete ceiling he ordered king to build and take some important lessons from it. next time the nets have flexibility and assets, they must do better... or fall in to the same trap that the knicks chronically fall in to. the nature of the big stage seems to keep getting to these teams.

Taking a shot at my Knicks the Nets did exactly what the Knicks (Isiah) did any time he had any flexibility, use all of it the moment he had it on the best players available regardless of fit or salary or future commitments. They just had more flexibility so they got more good players. And they are dying to add another real big multi year salaried player. (Humphries expirer to become a four year contract at same money.) That's going to be a dangerous one because it's going to stagger the expiring contracts, which means the Nets won't have reloading years, they'll always be at the cap.

Re: To some extent, VC is right about the Nets screwed up the Playoffs positions...

yup. prokhy needs to be honest with himself about how this stuff works or else move on. he's already said he might not stick around more than a couple more years. well... fine. he did his part, made the move and the stadium work, and made money on the net worth of the franchise IIRC.

going from zero to 60 only works once in a while with just the right players. d-will was fine on paper except he just couldn't keep his nose out of operations. the dwightmare pursuit also caused the hump re-signing to occur, which quickly became a massive mistake. just a couple years ago we had more cap room and #1 picks than anyone and i thought: great! time to start the right way! which wouldn't have taken as long as normally because of the desirability of NYC and a cutting-edge arena.

the nets would already be an exciting young team right now with major upside if those assets had merely been used in an average way. but noooooooo... NYC and prokhy had to have BIG NAMES. make a BIG SPLASH!

Re: To some extent, VC is right about the Nets screwed up the Playoffs positions...

The Nets were 3-0 against Pacers in regular season, two of these wins were in Indiana, while the only game at home was a blowout win. Playoffs are all about matchup, which was why the Pacers benefited by playing the Knicks and Heat(though still not able to overcome the Heat anyway). If you hold the key to your matchup, you win. Its unfortunate that we played a team that got our number.

Re: To some extent, VC is right about the Nets screwed up the Playoffs positions...

the pacers prolly have the upper hand in series against the heat; they just haven't learned to win yet.

at the very end of game one, after they had worked so hard to take command, george jumped out at lebron for no good reason at the top of the key and LBJ simply pranced to the hoop for a layup and a freebie win. i just threw up my hands in exasperation. i guess they need another year (and d. west re-signing) before they see the writing on the wall.